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“I’m sorry about that. They won’t have to sue me. I’ll just repay everything.” I press my lips together in a hard line. “Easy come, easy go. Loren’s going to see if we can find another label to contract with once this is done.”
My phone buzzes for the millionth time today, and I pull it out. “It’s James,” I say to Sam. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” He tucks an arm around me.
Winterthorn: So you decided to cause a scandal?
Jules: Hello to you too
Winterthorn: When do I get to meet him?
Jules: Soon
Winterthorn: Excellent. I want to threaten him.
Jules: Why?
Winterthorn: Because if he hurts you, he’ll have to answer to me.
I look up at Sam. “My best mate says you’re not allowed to hurt me.”
He bursts out laughing. “Em said the same thing. Have you seen the response to you being out with me?”
“It’s… not horrible, last time I looked,” I say.
I open Twitter, where I’m still trending high, with most tweets supportive, and we read some together.
Sam is great for him. If it was worth it for him to come out because of Sam, I think by definition that means Sam is wonderful.
We should all just leave him alone. Give him some privacy
Tell me all the juicy gossip. I want to know every last bit.
Can you picture those two in bed? Oh god I hope they have a sex tape. It would be so hotttt.
“That’s better than I thought,” he says, smiling. “So… what do we do about my grandfather’s campaign?”
“We tell the truth. Let me talk with Loren.”
CHAPTER45
Sam
Afew days later, Loren has arranged a press conference. Julian’s still not speaking with Colin. And my work has given me my last paycheck.
I’m unemployed, but I have an interview next week. And my old job isn’t the only way I can work on advocacy.
For now, I have something else to do.
My pulse is spiking and skittering all over the place, with sharp peaks and deep valleys. And I’m not even the one who has to do the public speaking today. Jules and I talked about it, and while I’m willing tonotjust stand around and look pretty, let’s be real: his fans don’t want to hear from me. I’m merely Exhibit A.
His adoring public wants to hearhim.
The Stone and Delmont campaigns issued a joint press release stating that they were supportive of my relationship with Julian and that Kurt and I are longtime friends whose romance had cooled but who remained close. I’m fine with that. Not everyone needs to know my business.
I hold Julian’s hands tightly, like he’s a sail in the wind and I’m the carabiner holding him by a grommet. He’s in full rock god glory, wearing black leather pants and a black net blouse that shows off his tattoos, his hair artfully untidy. I note the tip of my pocket square peeking out of his back pocket. I’m in a dark gray pinstripe suit with a pink bow tie. We don’t match, but I think we work.
Leaning over, I whisper in his ear, fingering the skull ring he gave me. “Don’t forget, I love you.”
